Shawn Mendes: a 3-song Junos primer

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Now with 11 acts and artists confirmed to perform so far (Feist was most recently announced for a tribute to Leonard Cohen), this year’s Junos broadcast on Sunday, April 2, promises to be one of the biggest in the award ceremony’s history.

From emerging artists like Ruth B to established acts like Sarah McLachlan and Billy Talent, there’s something for every music fan, and there are also a lot of great opportunities to discover exciting, new-to-you artists for your earbuds — to punch up your playlists or add to your record collection, or scope out for when their tours come to your hometown.

Think of the live Junos broadcast as an opportunity to survey just a little bit more of the country’s music scene, its depth and breadth, and then keep checking back daily as CBC Music posts its handy three-song primers for each artist and band to help deepen your appreciation of all these great musicians.

Shawn Mendes

Like Ruth B, Mendes also gained early fame and a following via the now-defunct Vine, and in the last two years, he’s become one of Canada’s biggest blockbuster artists. His first album, 2015’s Handwritten, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, and its biggest single, “Stitches” was inescapable, making Mendes an instant teen heartthrob around the world. Just how big was the folk-pop downer? The official music video for “Stitches” has 750 million views on YouTube alone. Mendes also spent time opening for Taylor Swift and has headlined his own world tours. When he released his follow-up album, Illuminate, in 2016, it also debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.

Now, the Toronto-based singer-songwriter, who’s just 18-years-old, has five Juno nominations, including artist of the year. Below are three essential tracks that will help give you a taste of Shawn Mendes, the young man giving Ed Sheeran a run for his money. .